Glycerites are sweet herbal tinctures which use vegetable glycerin to extract the medicinal constituents and flavor from herbs. Herbal tinctures are typically made from alcohol, but glycerin is a good alternative for children, animals, and adults when palatability and alcohol sensitivities are primary considerations. While not as potent as alcohol-based tinctures, glycerites are still quite effective – certainly more so than trying to administer a dose of alcohol-based tincture to a tight-lipped child that hates the taste of alcohol. Glycerites are effective no matter what reason you have for wanting to make tinctures without alcohol as the base.
Vegetable glycerin is a clear, odorless liquid produced from vegetable oils such as palm, soy, or our favorite coconut oil, using high temperature and pressure to split the glycerin molecule from the fatty acids. While sweet, it is not metabolized by the body like sugar. For the highest quality glycerite, look for an organic, sustainably harvested, non-GMO glycerin.
Fresh plants are ideal for glycerin tinctures because glycerin excels at preserving the fresh plant juices. However, glycerin is not as effective as alcohol at drawing constituents completely out of the cell structure of dried plants. Fresh is best!
How to Make a Glycerite
Glycerites can be made using fresh or dried plant material, as follows:
- Fill a clean jar with clean, chopped fresh plant material or half-full of ground dried plant material (dried material will expand as it absorbs liquid).
- For successful preservation, a glycerine tincture should contain at least 55% glycerin (Cech, 2000). For fresh plants, add enough glycerin to fully cover the plant material and fill jar to within one inch of the top. For dried plants, dilute glycerin with distilled water in a 3:1 ratio (3 parts glycerin to one part water) and fill jar with mixture to within one inch of the top.
- Use a wooden spoon, popcickle stick or chopstick to poke into plant material and release air bubbles while adding glycerin or glycerin/water mixture.
- Cap and label jar, and set the jar in a dark location at room temperature. Let macerate for 4-6 weeks, shaking the bottle every day or two to mix. Top off with glycerin as necessary if plant material pokes above the top of the liquid.
- After 4-6 weeks, decant glycerite into a jar or bowl by pouring through a strainer lined with a few layers of cheesecloth. With clean hands, gather corners of cheesecloth together and squeeze herb material to express every last drop of glycerite.
- Bottle and label glycerite and the name of the organic material used.
